Animal-trap.



No. 823,736. PATENTED JUNE 19.1906.

M. E. M'IXSON.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION ILED JAN. 10, 1906.

. M E. M/xsQ/y; 1I WTNESSES: A INVENTOR;

y/ ATTORNEY;

IOl

i UNTTED sTATns PATENT OFFICE. l

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 19,1906.

Applicationled January 10,1906. Serial No.` 295,827.

To a/Z whom tn/tay concern:

Be it known that I, MARTHA E. MrxsoN, a

,citizen of the United States, residing at Burnsville, in the county of Dallas, and in the State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a clear exposition and specification.

The obj ect of my present invention, broadly speaking, isfthe provision of an animal-trap composed of a minimum of mechanical parts, which will be extremely simple in character,

compact in form and construction, which may be easily operated and controlled, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

Another object is to provide a trap which is particularly adapted for catching mice or other rodents and which will give the highest degree of efficiency with a minimum of exlpense for installation 4and maintenance and which will be positive in action.v

.Other specific objects and advantages will be noticed from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, from the following specication, and as specifically set forth in the terminal claim hereof.

One manner of carrying out the objects of my invention and that which in practice is found the most desirable is fully illustrated in the drawings forming a part ofthis speciiication.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my invention with the bottom partly opened. Fig. .2 shows a horizontal section of the invention as taken on the line X X of Fig. 1 and taken in the direction of the arrows, and Fig. 3 shows a vertical crosssection of the invention as taken on the line Y Y of Fig. 2 and as taken in the direction of the arrows.

Similar indices refer to and denote like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In order that my invention-may be fully understood and its many advantages adeuately comprehended, I will now take up a etail description thereof and will refer to the various parts as briefly and compactly as I may.

The invention comprises in its construction a box-like receptacle consisting of the four similar sides A, B, C, and D, which are secured together at their adjoining ed es in any well-known manner, and the letter Y, denotes the `permanent top secured to the upper edges of said sides, being held in place by the tongue e, which extends out around and from the edges of the top E and is entered in the groove therefor formed opposite thereto in the inner faces of the upper edges of the sides.

The letter F designates the slidable bot.- tom of my trap, which bottom has tongues `extending out from its right, left, and rear edges, which tongues are fitted into channels formed in' the inner faces of the lower edges of the sides A, B, and D, whereby said bottom may be pushed in, as in Fig. 3, or drawn out, (more or less,) as in Fig. 1, slidably.`

To facilitate the movement of the bottom manually, I secure to the front edge thereof a handle G, which is attached to the outer front edge of the bottom by the screws 1 and 2.

Formed through the upper right-hand corner portionof the sides A, B, C, and D are the respective oblong window-apertures 3, 4, 5,

and 6, which 4are partially closed by the gratebars a, a', a, a", and am in the window 3, the grate-bars b, b', b, b", and 19 in the window 4, the grate-bars c, c', c, c", and 0 in the window 5, and the grate-bars d, d', d, d", and dm in the window 6.

' Formed through the center vertically and located near the left-hand end portion of the sides A, B, C, and D are the round entranceports `7 8, 9, and 10, respectively, substantially as shown in the drawings.

The ports 7, 8, 9, and 10 are reinforced inside the trap by the respective resilient gaskets 11, 12, 13, and 14, which are attached to the respective sides A, B, C, and D by springs or the like, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3. The said gaskets are larger in diameter than the respective port which it surrounds;

but its central aperture is slightly smaller v than its port-aperture, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3'.'

-Spaced at equal distances apart around the aperture in each ofthe gaskets 11, 12, 13, and 14 are a plurality "of sharp pointed spikes, as the spikes 15 165, 17, and 18 shown in the respective gaskets. spikes are arranged to point inward and are so bent or otherwise positioned that their points are arranged convergently near to each other, forming a common vortex, as shown, but leaving a small space between the points', as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Secured in the top E and extending down into the interior of the trap are two baithooks H and I, having sharp upturned points IOO Each set of IIO to receive the bait, said hooks being clearly shown in Fig. 3. y

Operation: It will now be readily apparent that an animal may enter either of the ports 7, 8, 9, or 10, tempted by the bait which may be suspended from the hooks H and I, its entrance spreading apart that set of spikes 15, 16, 17, or 18, and that after a portion of the animal has passed beyond the points of the spikes it will be unable to with-V draw itself by reason of the inclination and the resilient mounting of the spikes, which would pierce the body of the animal should it attempt to withdraw, and also that after the animal has entered the trap the spikes by reason of the resiliency of the gaskets in which they are mounted will close to their normal positions shown, thereby preventing the animal from gaining an exit. The windows in addition to the ports allow means for observing the animal which may be captured, after which holding the trap over a body of water the bottom F may be withdrawn while the trap is in its normal position, thereby precipitating the animal from the trap into the body of water or allowing for it to be otherwise disposed of.

My invention is perfectly Aadapted to accomplish the results for which it is intended, and it is evident that changes in and modifications oi the specific construction herein shown and described may be made and that analogous parts may be used to accomplish the same results without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of its many advantages, and the specilic construction of the details and proportions of the 1ny vention, in which novel features are embodl led, may be variously changed without altering the essential principles which are claimed as new.

I-Iaving nowV fully shown and described my invention and the best means for its constru ction to me known at this time, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

An animal-trap compri si ngin combination, a box-like receptacle having four sides each being provided with a port and a window therethrough, a permanent top and a slidahle bottom to inclose said receptacle, a resilient gasket surrounding each ol said ports and secured to the inner face of the respective sides, the apertures through said gaskets being less than the port-apertures which they surround, a plurality of sharp-pointed spikes extending inward and convergingly from around each gasket 5 bait-hooks suspended from the top into the interior ol the receptacle, and bars for guarding said windows, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set i'orth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, January 6, 1906.

MARTHA E. MIXSON.

Witnesses 2 EUGENE RoBBINs, CLAUDE C. GRAYsoN. 

